You might be correct. The slogans were entirely forgettable. “Natitude” was pretty silly also, but it took on its own life when the Nats started to win and Fillies fans departed en masse. So, guess it’s part of the “culture” now.

Clearly, we stand in the presence of greatness. Alas, this means Craig will be even more insufferable than usual.

Craig has it right, except (of course) for the part about it being sad that the Nats won the division. I fear that “Natitude” has taken on a life of its own, and we’re stuck with it. It’s a downside of the team’s unexpected success. Well, that and how they exited the playoffs.

Ever notice how the Nats are kinda like Carcetti to the Phillies’ Royce, while Craig, the Braves, and Nerese Campbell reluctantly keep each other company in second place, trolling when they can, because , dammit, it was supposed to be their turn!?

If fairness, the current Nats regime had to go out of their way to sell tickets to their own team’s fans rather than invading fans from Philadelphia, because the previous regime (cough, cough, Stan Kasten, cough, cough) openly encouraged the invasion to start with.

From time to time, we have this discussion on this here blog right here. I, and others, have maintained that the real solution wasn’t some lame marketing campaign. The real solutiuon was to win. Attending several Phillies-Nats games this season, it wasn’t hard to see (and hear) the change in the mix of fans between the two teams.

In fairness to Stan Kasten, he put the organization in place that produced the team that won the games that encouraged more Nats fans to replace Phillies fans in the seats at Nats Park (which he helped get built).

I’ll never forgive Kasten for leaving Bozo Bowden in place as GM. Okay, the team cratering to the worst record in baseball in 2008-2009 got us Strasburg and Harper, but that was a case of extraordinarily good timing. Yes, Kasten did leave us with Rizzo, but who knows how that might have turned out had Bowden not self destructed in the wake of the Dominican payola scandal?

It seems to me that the Kasten’s most positive influences on the current Nats were lucky accidents rather than the result of “The Plan.”

dennisund - Nov 30, 2012 at 3:54 PM

Was said encouragement through, say, allowing people that were willing to buy tickets buy tickets? Like every other sports team in the country?

Answer: it’s what Georgia crackers do to annoy the rest of us while we’re trying to watch the Braves game.

I swear, I have never seen a team – the players and coaches – with more class than the Braves, and a fan base that is more annoying. Of course, we might point the finger at the team leadership, since it, not the fans, plays that godawful, racist chop music nonstop. But “Natitude”? Man, you showed us, Craig.

But far be it from me to tell the great Calcaterra how stupid trolling is. He learned everything he knows about “dignity” from the stadium music at Turner Field, I guess.

Except I am long on record — and consistently so — saying that the Tomahawk Chop is stupid and racist and that I hate it. Because, unlike most of you guys, I am fully able to root for my favorite baseball team without reflexively thinking that everything their marketing and promotions department does is righteous and wonderful.

I think Bobby Three-Sticks is a great player. I wish I could root for his team, but I can’t. That’s the difference between you and me, Craig. Sometimes symbols ARE important and not just “marketing and promotions.”

Let me just say that when Game 5 punched me in the gut, I was tempted to throw my red towel on the field. But the image of the garbage Atlanta fans threw on the field stayed my hand. I (and many other people) instead stood with tears held back and applauded the team that gave us a great season. That’s Natitude.

I think Nationals fans mainly look at “Natitude” as a joke. I don’t think I know a single fan of the team that is trying to turn it into “an organic fan inspired” concept. From what I’ve seen it is viewed in a similar light as Craig’s viewing of the tomahawk chop.

Craig tried to double down on his trolling by suggesting that most of us (not just Nats fans, but fans in general) are dupes for teams’ marketing departments. Not only is that lame, it’s wrong. For ex., for all the ridicule we Nats fans have heaped upon the whole “Natitude” thing, he oughta know better.

I think a lot of Nats fans really enjoyed it. You see it all over peoples facebook posts when they win. Its easy to just say, “oh so lame”, like your a teenager who hates everything (Mom shut up!!!), but its kind of fun and for it to come about when they started winning, I dont think its going anywhere.

Also, Is it bad that a marketing ploy (and a good team) actually worked? Are we all supposed to think that we are all so high and mighty that marketing doesnt work on us?

I will continue to ignite my natitude when we sign Grienke and win the divison again.

complaining about petty little things like marketing slogans just shows how bitter you are about their success… sorry they’re not the lightning rod of jokes that they’ve been in the past, looks like you’ll have to find some other team to pick on…